Tools and Equipment

Birth of a Slick

Here's how the folks at John Neeman Tools make hand-forged slicks. What's a slick? It's an oversize chisel that boat builders and timber framers use for paring and smoothing. I have two from my time as an apprentice boat builder; the first I made from the leaf spring of a car and the second I bought when I had more money. The slick in this video puts the one I made to shame – but then it was made by a master who knows his trade. It's kind of ironic, though, that after all of that handwork he uses a laser to etch the label.